Shivasamudram Falls

Gaganchukki falls

What is there in Shivasamudram Falls?

Shivasamudram waterfall is on Kaveri river and divided into two different falls which are 8km apart from each other – Bharachukki and Gaganachukki falls. Bharachukki falls is the famous of the two falls but we found Gaganchukki falls equally good. Even during off season (before rains) both the falls had decent flow and not completely dried out.

A little dried – Barachukki falls

The thing that we liked about these falls was that government is trying to make it more  tourists friendly and have constructed lookout points, toilets  and parking lots. Also unlike Hognekkal falls which was all littered up these falls were very clean.

When to visit Shivasamudram falls?

Best time is definitely after monsoon when the Kaveri flows in full form. But it wont be disappointing to visit in summers also. We had visited the falls in May and it was not that bad.

How to reach the Shivasamudram Falls ?

We drove to Shivasamudram falls and it took us around 2 hrs to reach Gaganchukki falls. GPS would be the best option- just punch in Gaganchukki and it will direct you to the right place. We had no problem locating the falls. If you are travelling from Bangalore, first Gaganachukki falls will come from there you can ask the guard for directions to Bharachukki falls, though there are sign boards on the way so locating these falls shouldn’t be a problem.

Enroute from Gaganchukki to Bharachukki falls

How much time do you need for Shivasamudram falls?

We had left around 7am in the morning from Bangalore and around 9 am we had reached Gaganachukki falls. After making few pit stops here and there we reached Bharachukki falls around 11am.

Good road and beautiful blossom of flowers

Usually at Bharachukki falls, tourists are allowed to go down to the gorge and take a small boat ride, but unfortunately when we visited the falls this facility was shut down temporarily as earlier that week someone had drowned there. Also, there were a lot of monkeys there so we didn’t stay at Bharachukki for a long time. We took a small detour but we if we had not we could have reached back to Bangalore around 2pm.

In all, Shivasamudram is worth a half day trip but there are few places nearby which can be combined with this trip.

Places near Shivasamudram falls

Talakad : This place is famous for being a deserted a town but by no means it is that. It has few temples which have been unearthed and most of the tourists come here. We also visited Talakad which is around 32km from Bharachukki falls (GPS Talakad – sign boards are also there). It has good architecture but not a must visit place. It was a very hot day when we visited this place and moreover there were so many tourists so it was pretty crowded.

There are many other places nearby such as Bheemeshwari, Chanapatna, BR Hills , check the below link for more details. – http://www.karnataka.com/mandya/barachukki-gaganachukki-falls-shivanasamudra/

Tips when travelling to Shivasamudram falls

1. Carry your own food and water. Though there is a small eatery outlet near Gaganachukki falls but its better to carry your own food.
2. Beware of monkeys. There are a lot of monkeys near Bharachukki falls.
3. Carry spare clothing. If you take the boat ride at Bharachukki falls there is a high possibility that you will get wet (there are washrooms near both the falls).

Our Experience

We didn’t have much expectation from these falls and hence we were pleasantly surprised that they had some water in them and also were well maintained well. At least the areas near the falls were not littered which made us feel really good.

The road to this place was superb with just few bad patches. Overall we liked this place but we would like to visit this place once after the rains to see the falls in full form.

 

Yelagiri

What is there in Yelagiri ?

Yelagiri is a small hillstation in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Just like other hill stations of south, Yelagiri too has a lake, beautiful green valley but with one difference, it is not crowded. Though Yelagiri might not be the perfect hill station but the drive to this place is worth it.

Which is the best season to visit Yelagiri?

As Yelagiri is not at a great altitude, summers can be really hot. Any day that is pleasant is good for this short trip.

Yelagiri is also famous for snakes so probably rainy season should be avoided if you are planning to trek.

How to reach Yelagiri?

 Yelagiri is around 150km from Bangalore and the the best way to reach would be to drive to Yelagiri (GPS- our best friend). Though the road is in very good condition but last few kilometers have lot of twist and turns so it can be fun for some and no so much for others.

Stairway to Heaven

What to do in Yelagiri?

We had heard para-gliding could be done in Yelagiri but it turned out it was no more done there. Disappointment.

Swami Malai Trek :This is an small 3km trek which takes around 1-1.5 hrs climbing uphill. It starts behind a small temple (ask locals they will guide you to the starting point, GPS will also guide you to the starting point) and passes through fields. The trek is pretty decent with many mud stairs. At the top of the hill there is a big boulder on which one can climb and view the whole valley. Must do trek in Yelagiri.

Jalagamparai Waterfalls : We were not able to visit these waterfalls but there is a trek to reach to these falls.

Punganur Lake : This is an artificial lake and meant for families with kids, so you can pass on this lake.

Vainu Bappu Solar Observatory : One of the largest solar observatory is around 35km from Yelagiri. Prior permission is required.

Where to stay in Yelagiri?

There is not much to do in Yelagiri so a day trip would be enough to explore this place, but if you have to stay then there are few good hotels/ resorts in Yelagiri such as Yelagiri Marigold Ridge, O’Nila resort. Cheap stays are also available.

Top of the rock where you get the bird eye view

Our Experience

To be honest, the trip wasn’t as per our expectation. We had gone to Yelagiri to do para-gliding which as I mentioned above was no longer done there. Also,it was a hot day and we didn’t know what to do there. After some online search we came to know about the trek but by then it was already 10am so it was pretty hot. Though the trek was nice as most of the route to the trek had tree cover but would have been better if we had started a little earlier.

But anyway,the drive to this place was very nice with some good view points and also the trek was good, so we would recommend this place if you want to do road trip from Bangalore.

Alwar II- Chand Baori & Mangalsar Dam

Though Alwar is not very renowned, but there are some amazing places to visit in and around Alwar.

To know more details on how to travel to Alwar, where to stay etc, please check our previous post – Alwar

This post is about the places which are around an hour away from Alwar and quite picturesque ones.

Chand Baori

Chand Baori is in Abhaneri which is about 1.5 hrs away from Alwar en route to Jaipur. This place is very near to the main highway connecting Alwar and Jaipur. Just a single turn from the main highway and about 1 km from that highway would lead you to this place (GPS would be your best friend- look for directions to Abhaneri – from there sign boards will guide you Chand Baori )

Baori in Hindi means step well. So as the name suggest this is a step well which was constructed in 800-900 AD. Rajasthan is extremely hot and arid region in India and thereby to conserve rain water, many step wells were constructed in Rajasthan. Chand Baori happens to be one of the oldest and massive structure of its kind.

How to Plan your trip to Chand Baori?

Half day is more than sufficient to visit this place (plus the traveling). If you are into photography, then probably you could spend a whole day here. Also, if you love architecture then this place is must visit.

Guides are also available for both Indian and foreign tourist. If you need a guide other than from Hindi & English, please check with tour operators from Jaipur.

Where to stay in/near Chand Baori ?

As Chand Baori is in a village and on way of Jaipur- Alwar highway, its best to stay either in Alwar or Jaipur.

Some tips for Chand Baori travel.

Best season to visit this place is definitely the winter months say from November to February.

This place is about old architecture, so please don’t expect any kind of luxury facility for that matter even food. Please carry your own food and water as there is only a small teastall near this place.

Note: Going down the step well is restricted and is allowed only through a permit which can be taken from Jaipur only.

Our Experience 

It was more like a picnic for us, we were leaving for Jaipur airport and we decided to take a short detour to this place. We left early from Alwar as we had planned to visit this place, initially we got confused as from where we should take the left but google maps and people on the way were quite helpful.  We sat in the garden outside the Baori and had our lunch, it was such a good experience and we felt nostalgic about the picnics we used to have in our childhood time. This place just makes you feel that even back then people could build such magnificent structures. Also, to our surprise we saw many parrots in Chand Boari, its just that we hadn’t seen parrots in a while so it was kind of cherry on the cake.We just spent an hour or two exploring this place though we wished we could have spend more time but we had a flight to catch so we made most out of what we had.

Interesting fact:  Many movies like – Dark Knight Rises (Batman), Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Bhul bhulaiya etc have some scenes shot in Chand Baori.

Mangalsar Dam

This place is about 65 kms away from Alwar and again a very nice place to visit during and after monsoon season in India.

Mangalsar is man made Dam in middle of nowhere. This is also very famous for people who are interested in bird watching as lot many exotic species visit this place during winter months.

How to travel to Mangalsar Dam ?

Driving to this place is the best way to reach. Apart from a small patch, the road leading to this place is in good condition. We used google maps to reach to this place (Just a pointer –  don’t take the road which passes through Sariska as it is not in good condition)

How to plan a trip to Mangalsar Dam ?

This place is perfect for a short day picnic. Very close to Bhangarh fort (famous for being Haunted), this place is a must visit for those who love water bodies in middle of no where. For people traveling from Delhi can combine Bhangarh and Mangalsar dam.

We would suggest a minimum of 2 hours but you spend a whole day doing nothing here.  Also do carry your own food and water.

Where to stay near Mangalsar Dam ?

If you want to have luxury stay near this place then I would recommend Vanaashrya camping resort.  If saw few more hotel sign boards near to this place. You can also stay in Alwar (Dhadhigarh fort) and travel to this place.

Our Experience

In March 2014, we went for this short impromptu trip. After reading about this place in local newspaper we decided to take a short trip there. As in March many exotic birds flock this place, we thought it would be a different experience.

The road to this place was quite good and we stopped in between to see couple of farms  and to have tea and snacks at small stalls. It is always interesting to make these small pit stops.

It was a bright sunny day  but we had got a nice place to sit near the lake under the shade of a tree. We carried our own food & water and had this small family picnic. Also, as the place was very calm and serene and weather being very pleasant, we enjoyed our short stay at this place. Though we didn’t see any exotic birds but still the place was worth the visit.

Meghalaya

 

What is there is Meghalaya?

Meghalaya, meaning Abode of Clouds, is one of the seven sisters of India. True to its name, Meghalaya is the wettest state in India and Mawsynram (in Cherrapunji district in Meghalaya) is said to be wettest place on earth.

Meghalaya consist of three major ranges namely Garo, Khasi & Jaintia and these ranges derive their names from the tribes that live in these ranges. Meghalaya, unlike other states of India is Matrilineal society (not Matriarchal as thought by many) i.e after marriage husband takes wife’s surname, also property is inherited by the female of the family but the major decisions in society and family are taken by the male population and not by female (as lot of people gets confused in this). A lot of books, documentaries are made both by Indians and foreigners about the unique culture of Meghalaya. I would suggest to visit the place and talk to locals, because these books and documentaries can be very misleading.

Apart from being famous for its culture, this state has highest plunge fallsof India i.e.Nokhalikai , living root bridge, cleanest village in Asia, caves, adventure sports and obviously beautiful landscapes.

If you are planning to go for a relaxing trip then you might want to skip Meghalaya, not saying that you can’t relax in Meghalaya but because this place has so much to offer, just a lazy weekend won’t do justice to this place.

When to visit Meghalaya?

As Meghalaya receives high amount of rainfall, it is not advisable to travel to this state during monsoon( July to September). November to February are good months to travel (milky way is also clearly visible during these months); September end and October are also fine, but can get very hot and humid. March to June will be hot and the falls might not have a good throughput, so its best to avoid these months.

We visited Meghalaya in September end, luckily it was not raining then, so we were able to travel easily but then the day were very hot and humid but nights were pleasant

If you are traveling immediately after rains, you might not be able to visit the caves and also there is high possibility of encountering leeches.

How to plan a trip to Meghalaya?

I would suggest to have at least a week in hand in order to get the feel of the place. There are three ways to travel this place:

1. Landscape viewing: If you are traveling to see the landscapes and visit only very famous places of Meghalaya, and if you have less days in hand, then do hire a cab right away from Shillong. Get your hotels pre-booked. This way is also best for people traveling with children.
2. (Culture + Landscapes) viewing : If you want to get a feel of true Meghalaya but have a week to ten days in hand, then better do a pseudo backpacking kind of trip but with few reservations made before hand. We traveled this way.
3. Much More : If you have lot of time in hand and want to explore the real Meghalaya, then definitely do backpacking. Do stay at couple of villages and also near double decker bridge then you will get real feel of what Meghalaya is all about.

We are not big backpacking fans, we try to mix comfort + backpacking. For this trip we traveled with one backpack, this made it easier to travel. Also, we had done some research before hand, so had narrowed down to the places where we wanted to visit, but didn’t make any reservations.

Do write to us to know in detail how Meghalaya can be planned and how we planned our trip.

Where to stay in Meghalaya (Khasi)?

We traveled to Khasi part of Meghalaya, hence will be able to give inputs about that region.

First of all, apart from Shillong, don’t expect too much of luxury. Hotels in Meghalaya are expensive.  For the money you pay, services and comfort would not be the same. There are few good hotels and resorts but they are bit pricey.

Sai-mika resort ( very close to Nokhilakai Falls and caves) was the one in where we stayed in Sohra/ Cherrapunji . A very beautiful resort. A bit expensive but then amazing property. Cherrapunji Holiday resorts also has many good resorts in Meghalaya. Pre-book these resorts if you are traveling during peak season.

In Mawphlang ( near to Shillong ) there is Maple Pine farm, which is a must visit. Its something similar to bread and breakfast but in a farm with totally different experience. Highly recommend this (but do check their website before going, as they are not like normal B&B). There are few beautiful treks near this farm, hence you can easily spend a day or two here. Check their website for more details:http://www.culturalpursuits.com/general/maple-pine-farms

We also stayed near Living Root Bridge in Serene Homestay. This is suitable only for people who are backpacking.

In Mawlynnong, cleanest village in Asia, there are many homestays. But people here charge exorbitant amount of money even for a small room. So be ready to shell our 2k/night for a very small room.

In Shillong, Travelers Nest (Later recommended by our friend), Ashutosh Inn ( we stayed here) are decent  places to stay.

What places can be visited in Meghalaya?

As we visited only Khasi part of Meghalaya, I will be listing only those places.

1. Nokhalikai Falls : Highest plunge water fall of India. It is very close to Sai-mika resort in Sohra. There are around 300 staircase near these falls, where one can get a good view of the falls. Also, do read on how these waterfalls got it’s name(it’s both interesting and weird story).
2. Masmai caves: The most famous and commercialized  cave of Meghalaya. These are small caves and very crowded but easily accessible and open to everyone.
3. Arwah cave : This cave is very big and not visited by many, mainly because its very big and dark cave. Not suitable for kids and elderly people. But highly recommended for people who like exploring caves. They are near to Nokhalikai falls. Falls and caves can be covered in a single day.(Don’t forget to take your trekking shoes when visiting this place, it is not cake walk).
   

   
4. Living root bridge: First of all there are many living root bridges in Meghalaya. One of the most famous one is Double decker bridge at Sohra. It is around 1 hr away by car from Nokhalikai falls. This place is heaven for backpackers, as there are many routes and blue pools to explore near the bridge. If you don’t mind staying in a small homestay, then this is a place to be.  A very important thing about this bridge is that, to reach here, you will have to take around 3000 staircases and some wired suspension bridges. If you are not planning to stay here, then start in the morning so that you have enough time to climb back.
   

   

   
5. Mawlynnong : Cleanest village of Asia. This village is very clean but then you won’t miss on anything if you don’t visit this village. Though the drive to this place is worth it, but the village is not. There are many homestays in this village, but unlike other homestays, these ones are very expensive (1.5k to 2k per night). People here try to make extra bucks by saying that you can see Bangladesh. The only difference we felt was that GPS and time were  getting updated to that of Bangladesh but honestly you cant make out any difference so the whole idea of seeing Bangladesh is not worth it. Also, we talked to locals and according to them most villages in Meghalaya are clean and it’s just that Government has done few things for this village that’s why this particular village has got this fame.
   

   

   
6. Dawki : Is a small Indian village that borders with Bangladesh. This place is a must visit as it has crystal clear river water, in which hundreds of fisherman come every morning to fish. An amazing site to witness. 2 hrs is more than enough for this place. It is about 45 mins drive from Mawlynnong village.
7. Barapani or Umiam Lake : On the way from Gauhati to Shillong, you will pass this magnificent lake. Usually people just stop for a while, but you can also get a hotel booked near this lake. Worth stopping.
8. Nartiang Monoliths : An interesting place with lot of monoliths. But do read about the the significance of monoliths in Meghalayan culture.(We were not able to visit this place but was recommended by lot of people)
   

   
9. Sacred Forest: In Mawphlang, this sacred forest is a must visit. With variety of different plant species, this place is considered sacred. Also, it is said that you should not take anything back from the forest otherwise bad luck will follow you.  
10. Dain-Thlen Falls : Very close to Saimika resort. These falls can definitely be skipped. There are so many falls in Meghalaya that visiting all is not possible.
11. Nohsngithiang Falls : In Cherra district,  after Arwah caves , these falls come on the way to Mawsmai caves. Very beautiful falls. Must visit.

What is must carry for Meghalaya trip?

If you are planning to travel during September and October, then make sure you have sunscreen, summer cap, windcheater, salt (for leeches), a light jacket, good walking/running shoes. Over recent years, rainfall has decreased in Meghalaya, hence September does not receive as much rainfall as earlier it used to. Try to travel light.

Post October to January, Meghalaya is cold. Summer months are pretty hot.

How to travel to/within Meghalaya ?

Shillong, Meghalaya’s capital has direct flight from Kolkata and Guwahati. Another way to reach Shillong is via Guwahati (Assam). Gauhati is well connected to major cities in India by air, railway and road. From Guwahati, Shillong is about 2.5 hrs and can easily be traveled by buses, rail, taxis or rented bike. From Gauhati airport, one can get shared taxis (400 Rs) for Shillong.

From Shillong, Sohra (Cherrapunji) is about 2.5 hrs and can be reached by shared taxis, private taxi, rented bike or bus.  Shared taxi are also available for travel between villages. If you don’t have spare days in hand then better try a private taxi or rented bike.

We took some shared cabs during starting days of our trip, but later we rented a bike from Shillong. If you are planning to rent a bike do contact Ashley of Cacti 360 Group (greenrouteshg@gmail.com, Ph: 08119007851) before hand as this guy might also help you to get homestays in Meghalaya. Also, if you want to do some adventure sports, he is the right person to approach.

Also, from Sai-mika resort, you can get rental cycles. I think it is a great way to explore nearby places.

Some tips for Meghalaya Trip.

1. Try to travel light to this place if you don’t have your own car or private taxi. Local transport in Meghalaya is good but it will consume lot of time as shared taxis wait for all the people to fill in.
2. Do carry some packed food.
3. Post August, it gets dark after 5pm or 5:30pm, so its better to start your day early.
4. Pack all that you will need, apart from Shillong, its difficult to find shops.
5. Do try adventure sports in Meghalaya such as zip lining ( Sohra) , tree climbing /rappeling (Near Mawphlang).
6. Hire a bike and travel Meghalaya on two wheels. Super fun.
   

   

   

Our Experience of Meghalaya.

We had planned for a 3 day trip to Meghalaya but later we decided to stay here as it had so much to offer. The thing that we loved about this state is its unique culture. This place has so many stories related to their unique rituals. From ladies Jainsem dress to betel eating habit of people to sacred forest rituals, everything in Meghalaya is interesting.

On one hand, one can learn about rich culture of Meghalaya on the other hand one can enjoy the western culture too. Meghalaya has a great western influence, hence everyone ( almost everyone) in Meghalaya plays guitar and not amateur guitar but people here have amazing bands of their own. Also, people do lot of adventure sports, biker group events and so much more.

Few things or places which I will never forget : Sitting near blue pools and listening to waterfall near double decker root bridge, looking at fisherman fishing in Dawki and Bangladesh, listening to band playing in Sai-mika resort, having amazing French toast breakfasts, looking at valley filled with clouds.

Some Important contact numbers:

• Ashley (Shillong) – Bike rent/ Adventure Sports + booking homestays in villages + almost anything – greenrouteshg@gmail.com, Ph: 08119007851
• James – cultural tour of Meghalaya – guy is working on this for past 20 years, have a complete knowledge about the place and people – he is owner of maple pine farm – http://www.culturalpursuits.com/general/maple-pine-farms

 

 

 

 

Avalabetta

What is there in Avalabetta?

Avalabetta from the top

Small lake before the climb to Avalabetta

Awesome weather + no crowd = dream place in Bangalore

Avalabetta is a small hill top in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka. Its similar to famous Nandi hills but with one difference, Avalabetta is not at all crowded. For Bangaloreans, its a half day trip to this place. There is not much to do at Avalabetta, but then sometimes its better this way. Just  a place to CHILL MAADI.

Which is the best season to visit Avalabetta?

Rain Rain come again…

One of the best views in Bangalore

Mesmerizing…

Any good weather day is a good day but especially if it rains, then it is just awesome
. Before going just check the weather forecast.

How to reach Avalabetta?

Car parking space at the top – near government’s rest house

When we entered the village…

En route you will see many such plantation fields – we don’t know what field is this

Nice Tree covered road

Avalabetta is around 100kms from south Bangalore and the best way to reach this place is by a private vehicle. Road to this place is in good shape so driving won’t be any issue. GPS is must to reach Avalabetta road, after that its better to ask locals(for the way to temple), as GPS directs to take a shortcut which is by a mud road. We wasted our time to figure out our way as we didn’t have access to internet and GPS was directing to this mud road. So do it the old school way, and ask the local people.

How much time can you spend at Avalabetta?

Just sitting and enjoying the picturesque view from the top of rest house

Avalabetta has a small temple on the top, and further up there is a small government guest house, which is usually closed. Basically this place has nothing to do, but its the best place to spend time with family and friends. Depending on the group, 2-3 hours stay at this place is more than enough. Also, as this place has no restaurants (which is good in a way that it is clean), carry your own food and water.

Our Experience of Avalabetta.

Playing hopscotch… back to childhood

The best part about this short road trip was that (we left at 2pm on Saturday afternoon and we reached around 4pm) there was literally no one there, we had Avalabetta completely to ourselves. We spent 2 hours there, playing hopscotch and enjoying the light shower. Our sole purpose to go to this place was to be away from city and enjoy the weather, which we accomplished.

Hognekkal Falls, Tamil Nadu

What is there in Hognekkal Falls?

Falls in the gorge

Hognekkal falls is known as Niagara falls of India. Being on Kaveri river, the throughput of the falls is very good and that makes this fall perennial. Though after rains it becomes massive but even before rainy season it is equally good and enjoyable. The best thing about this falls is the small round boat ride which takes you directly under the falls crossing the small gorge. It is amongst our “must visit” list.

Just before reaching the falls, de tour to this place

When to visit Hognekkal Falls?

Well, as it is on Kaveri, anytime is good time. But then, weather can play an important role to decide if you want to go or not. If its hot and sunny weather then you might not be able to enjoy as much as when the weather is pleasant or cloudy. Moreover, after monsoon, the boat ride is discontinued as the water level rises in the gorge. So the best time can be during monsoons.

Also, visit should be made before 11am as after that it gets very crowded and the boat rowers also do not spend much time showing you around. Few friends of our’s did not appreciate the place as they reached after 12 pm.

How to reach Hognekkal Falls?

Though Hognekkal is in Tamil Nadu, its very close to Karnataka border. From Bengaluru it is about 120km. Best way to reach is by taxi or by car. Route is also pretty and worth the drive. For self drive GPS will be reliable. Don’t take the highway which is shown in the GPS but a detour through village via Denkanikotai will be good, also you can further detour to Devrabetta in Thally

The community place of one of the villages that we crossed

How much time is required for Hognekkal Falls?

Kaveri river, just before the hognekkal falls.

Well, we left around 6 :30 am in morning, and after making many pit stops we reached Hognekkal around 10am. We left from Hognekkal around 1pm, stopped for lunch but still made back to Bengaluru by 4pm.

Some hair pin turns on the road to hognekkal

What to do in Hognekkal?

In India, you can have snacks even in gorges like this.. see the man with potato chips and cold drinks

There is a bridge from which you can see falls (also, half naked guys taking bath after getting oil massage), but going to the other side of the bridge is not allowed. The only way to go to the main falls is by taking a round boat. If you are early and it is not crowded then you can enjoy a lot as you can haggle a bit and get some extra time of the boat ride. Usually the boat ride takes you to the gorge and from there to a small beach and return.

There are two interesting part of the boat ride, first is that they take you to beach, which has flowing stream in which you can take bath. But one needs to be very cautious in taking the bath as the flow of stream is quite good. The other interesting thing is the 360 degree spin that you get on the boat.

We were on a beach which was in Tamil Nadu and the boats on the other side of the river were in Karnataka.

What to carry to Hognekkal Falls?

Do carry extra pair of clothes as you might get wet during the boat ride. Also make sure you carry food with you, because we didn’t find a single dhaba on the way, and one or two which were there, were closed.

Our Experience of Hognekkal Falls.

Hognekkal was a pleasant surprise. After visiting Jog falls, we didn’t have much expectation. But this was way more beautiful and fun. Also, because the weather was good we enjoyed a lot. We had some funny encounters at the falls, many men were getting oil massage done near the falls. I feel that these things should be stopped as after oil massage they take bath in the falls, making it all oily, greasy and dirty. The guys who were giving massage were actually hitting those guys and climbing on them, jumping on them. It was a funny site but then that’s the way locals earn there. Some of our friends hated this place because of this activity which was going on, but somehow we enjoyed a lot.

You can get typical oil message if you are willing to get it here… 😀

We reached here by boat. It was fun to take bath in this flowing river

Munnar

Munnar – you beauty

What is there is Munnar?

Munnar is a small hill station in the state of Kerela, India. It has got picturesque lake and tea estates. It is a place where you can have both a relaxing weekend and also an adventurous weekend in the wilderness.

Byson in the wildlife sanctuary

When to visit Munnar?

Best time to visit Munnar is after/during the Monsoons which start after June and ends in February. It is after the rains when the waterfalls and greenery are at their best, but we went before the rains and still everything looked beautiful. It is better to keep in mind that if you are going at a time when there are holidays in India, then it will be crowded as it is the nearest hill station to many cities. (We were stuck in traffic jam in Munnar for about 2hrs).

How to reach Munnar?

Munnar is well connected via road from Bangalore(10 hrs), Coimbatore(4 hrs), Kochi(3 hrs) and many more cities nearby. The nearest railway station are Kochi and Ernakulum. If you are travelling from Bangalore, it is better to take bus, as you can travel in night and reach early morning to Munnar.

By road from Coimbatore, awesome road

Where to stay in Munnar?

There are so many places to stay in Munnar from hotels to homestays to cottages. Since last time we stayed in homestay, this time we wanted to try cadamom cottage. So we booked a cottage through munnarcottages.in. Our cottage was located in an isolated and big cardamom property ,20km away from Munnar city. We had a great time there but travelling to Munnar was task, still would recommend it if seclusion is what you are looking for.

The lake in our estate, view is breathtaking

Some trekking around our estate

Places to visit in/near Munnar.

There are many places to visit in Munnar. We went to couple of them:

1. Attukal Falls: Around 5-6 kms from Munnar. As we had gone before monsoon, there was no water in the falls. There are many falls around that region but since we went in summers, all of them had dried up so we skipped going to all of them.
2. Matupetty Dam: Amazing place but only if you are willing to walk. Matupetty is very crowded, so the best way to enjoy it is to walk away from the crowd. There are many places near the lake where one can sit and enjoy that place in peace.

   

   The Dam – view from just 100 meters away from the crowded area

   

   Best place to just relax and lie down

3. Eravikulam National Park: Though we didn’t get time to visit the Park but we have heard its a nice place to visit. Also, the best time to visit is during early morning, as the day progresses the day gets hotter and also crowd increases.
4. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary: When you enter Kerela from Coimbatore you pass through this wildlife sanctuary. It is a good sanctuary where you can have lot of pit stops, but due to weather and limited time, we preferred not to stop in between. There is a high rise/watch tower from where you can see elephants and other animals. There is also a trek to one of the falls in the sanctuary.

   

   Falls in the wildlife sanctuary

What more can you do in Munnar?

Best way to enjoy Munnar is to cycle around the city. This was the best decision of this trip. Ansil, the guy who rents out cycle knew lot of unexplored places in Munnar and he suggested us to go to Laxmi falls. According to Ansil the route was for beginners but we found the terrain was bit difficult.

Cycling in munnar

Cycling through the forest road

Picturesque view throughout the cycling expedition

Cycling in munnar is a must if you really want to see its beauty and enjoy the lovely weather. We took the cycles in morning 7am, and went on the trail to laxmi waterfalls. It was about 16km from Munnar city and we passed through undulating road with picturesque tea plantation, it was amazing riding downhill. Little did we know that coming back up will be pain in the ass( and I mean literally).

Downhill was easy …and it was steep

Surprised to see waste segregation in a village in munnar – respect !!

After about 2.5 hrs of cycling downhill, we happily reached the falls, like other falls, this fall was also kind of dried up but still the water was cold and soothing.

Tea estates in munnar

Entrance of  Lakshi Falls

The Relaxing bathing experience in the falls

Uphill ride was the toughest part, sometimes we felt like giving up but then the natural beauty was so breathtaking and we knew cycling was the only way to enjoy it so, we continued on cycles for ext 16km uphill.

Kavya on the way back

I would suggest that cycling is a must do if you are going to Munnar, it was worth the effort we had put in.

Coorg

What is there in Coorg?

Lots of coffee estates to start with. Waterfalls, forests, small mountains (as it is in western ghats), greenery. Sometimes Coorg is referred as the mini Scotland of India. At 1525 m, Coorg, is a small hill station in Karnataka. It can be a relaxing destination, if you are looking to enjoy the weather and nature.

When to visit Coorg?

Abbey falls – before rains

Well, its said that the best season to visit Coorg is after rainfall, which is September to March, but then even during the rainfall this place is worth visiting. Waterfalls during or before rainy season are not at their best but still they are magnificent to see. Before visiting Coorg, check its weather forecast, if its going to be bright and sunny then you might want to postpone the trip as Coorg is not at a high altitude so it is hot if its not raining.

How to reach Coorg?

Best way to reach Coorg is driving

Coorg is about 265 km from Bangalore. There are many buses and rental cars available from Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. Nearest railway station for Coorg is Mysore which is about 95 km from Coorg. Best option is to self drive from Bangalore. It takes about 4-5 hrs to reach Coorg by car.

Restaurant in middle of nowhere

Where to stay in Coorg?

Tree house in a coffee estate

Madikeri is the place near Coorg where most of the hotels and resorts are located. So depending on your budget  you can plan to stay either in hotels cum resorts such as Taj Vivanta which would cost about 15,000 Rs per night or a homestay which starts from 500 Rs per night.

The best way to enjoy Coorg is to stay in any coffee estate. If you are planning to travel on the weekend to Coorg, then make sure you get your stay booked in advance as it gets really crowded. Booking.com and http://www.coorghomestays.com/ are two sites which can be very helpful.

What places to visit in Coorg?

Elephant ride in Nisardhama

Below are some places which you can visit on the way and in Coorg:

1. Nisargdhama: A small island formed by Kaveri river, on the way to Coorg (30 km). Its a must place to visit.

Nisardhama

2. Dubare elephant Camp : A slight diversion from the Coorg route. We did go to this place, but we didn’t spend much time there as it was very crowded.

Chelvara Falls – before monsoon

3. Abbey Falls: 7 km from Madikeri. Beautiful falls, again very crowded but worth visiting.

4. Coffee estate : There are many coffee estates in Madikeri and Coorg. If you are not staying in one then just stop by any coffee estate and ask the owners to show you around.

5. Chelvara Falls:  About 45 km from Madikeri. Worth visiting as its not crowded.

Photo from Rajaseat garden

6. Many small treks are present near Coorg such as Tadiyandamol trek, Brahmagiri trek, Nishani Betta trek and many more. Check Thrillophilia for more such treks.

What are must carry to Coorg?

Raincoat or umbrella, Salt (for leeches) and full length pants. As Coorg is part of western ghats there are lots of leeches, its better that if you are planning to stroll around or planning to do a trek, you wear long pants and no shorts. Shoes and socks are must. But still if you are unlucky and leech sticks to you then you need salt to remove it.

What to shop from Coorg?

As Coorg has many coffee estates, its famous for its coffee and also for its spices. Coorg Green is one store where you can find all these.

Our Experience of Coorg.

Coffee estate

Few things that I learnt on this trip:

1. Short notice trips near Banglore can be bit expensive as most of hotels/homestays are booked in advance. Mode of transport is also a problem on short notice.

2. People in Coorg charge extra money for packed food, so be careful. On every single thing they would ask 20-50% extra amount saying that its difficult to get, which is very weird as Coorg is not at a great altitude and also not so far from city.

3. Homestays are the best. We stayed in a homestay and the lady who owned it was very sweet ad helpful. The cherry on the cake was that she cooked some amazing food.

Even trees of different types know how to live peacefully

4. Making pit stops during the Coorg visit is the best way to enjoy Coorg. Touristy places are always very crowded, hence we used to stop in between and not at particular spots and that is how we enjoyed the best of Coorg.

Leech bite

5. Never underestimate Leeches. You won’t even know when they are on you. So always always wear shoes and keep the salt packet handy.

Leh winter Treks

Leh from the top

 Our Experience of Leh:

Trek Preparations

I am always skeptical about traveling with people, as I believe my thought process and theirs might differ. But this notion of mine was put to rest by the last trip we did to Leh. Our friends had gone on Chadar trek (frozen river trek for 8days) through Indiahikes a year before, and the pics were so mesmerizing that my heart kept telling me to go and my brain always refused. After mulling over the option of trekking for months, we finally got the push to go forward with our plan when we got very cheap air ticket (2.8K to and fro) from Delhi to Leh (cheap airfare was our driving force..hehehe). The same day we got our slot booked for chadar trek (this trek happens on Zanskar river for 7-8 days every year only for a month; Jan mid to Feb mid). This trek does not require professional trekking experience, but then some level of fitness more

What is there in Ladakh winter treks?

The magnificent Leh

Ladakh is a beautiful place, and the snow during winters is an embellishment to its beauty. The place is filled with adventurous activities and the awe-inspiring beauty of picturesque mountains and crystal clear skies.
There are a lot of monasteries in Leh such as the famous one -Thiksey, there are also many small villages in and around Leh and each one is more beautiful than the other. We had an opportunity to visit couple of them during the trek. We visited:

The view of monasteries at Lamayuru

a. Lamayuru: it is a beautiful village well connected with Leh-Srinagar highway(NH1), it has a beautiful monastry which reminds you of Cappadoccia of Turkey. We camped here for the first night and the minimum temperature that we saw was -18C.

The Pinkrila pass – the destination to climb on the first day of our trek

The way between the canyons – one of the best experiences of the trek

b. Wan-La: The trek from Lamayuru to Wan-la is about 13.4 kms and you have to cross Pinkrila pass which was at a height of 3600m. This trek is moderate, and it passes through small canyons and valleys. Finally, you cross a stream to enter this place.

The first experience of walking on the frozen river

Hard Ice – way slippery than snow

c. Phanji La: The trek to this place from Wan-la is more of a road trek, but if you detoure your way and enter a small frozen river running along the road, it becomes an interesting trek. Once you reach Phanji La, you can also trek on the frozen stream further to Hanumata. We however, went about 5kms upstream from Phanji la and returned, but the view was really amazing and we liked the challenges the stream had for us.

The trek in the snow – an arduous experience filled with lot of snow.. 🙂

This is the view of the valley from where we made our descend back to Hinju

Ahh – the closer view of the slippery surface

d. Hinju: Situated in the cradle of a mountain valley, this village is calm and serene. We (tried to) trekked from this village to Konskila pass. There was knee high snow which made it very difficult to walk . This was one of the great experience we had. While returning from the pass to the village, we took the frozen stream. Since the stream was slippery, we had to sit on our bottom and skid on the stream. It was both hilarious and painful experience, as stopping for a minute used to get our bottom glued to the ice.

The view of the mountains from Sakti

Evening walk in Sakti

e. Sakti: This is on the way to Pangong Tso from Leh, situated after the police check post for Pangong. This was the most beautiful village that we have seen in our life. It was snowing when we reached Sakti and we instantly fell in love with this place. The view was so mesmerizing that we all went speechless and the silence between us said all. This place gets really cold because of the chilly winds, we experienced a temperature of -21C at this place.
What winter treks are possible in Ladakh?

Spectacular view of the Zanskar and Indus meeting

1. Chadar trek : Walking on frozen Zanskar river
2. Nubra valley : Scenic, snowy walk
3. Sham Valley : Scenic, snowy walk
4. Lamayuru- Zanskar trek : the original one which we had planned, but we had to divert to other route as mentioned above.
5. Pangong: Though a risky trek, but people do trek on the frozen Pangong lake

How to reach Leh?

Fly: There are many flights from Delhi-Leh.
Road: During winters, the road from Manali is closed but the road from the Srinagar(NH1) remains open.

Where to stay during winter treks?

The frozen river – the layering effect of ice

If you are doing Chadar and other known treks then obviously you will be staying in tents. But if you end up going on a mixed trek like us then staying in homestays in villages is the best thing. If you want to experience the real Ladakh, I would suggest taking homestays, they are a perfect and best possible way to know more about the life in villages of Ladakh.

In Leh, there are many hotels, and you can choose from a very expensive one to cheap ones.

What is the best time in winter to visit?

The ice road

Third highest motorable pass in the world

Finally, we reached Pangong lake after 2 unsuccessful attempts

Serenity found at the lake

En route to Pangong – the wildlife sanctuary

Pangong lake at its best

   

The best time to visit is from mid-Jan to mid-Feb. Leh is exceptionally cold during December, and the snow starts melting after mid-Feb, thereby making it quite difficult terrain to walk.

What things you need to carry?

For winters you need a lot of things to carry with you: woolen cap, torch(preferably head torch), down jacket, gloves(woolen and waterproof), waterproof track pants, woolen socks and waterproof shoes (Quechua Forclaz 500,600 etc.). The most important thing that you need to keep in mind is to dress in layers, the thickness might not matter that much but layering is essential – 4 to 5 layers. Most of the things will be mentioned by the trekking company with which you are going, but naming a few things which we realized one should have:

1. Extra batteries for all the gadgets you are carrying
2. Buy woolen socks from Leh
3. Listerine
4. Hot water bags
5. Few pairs of gloves as you will need them day in day out.

Thiksey monastery – Leh

View from the monestry

How to book your winter treks?

There are many agencies that you can book your trek with – Indiahikes, burn the boundaries, Trek the Himalayas, etc. Never book it with Trek The Himalayas – NEVER – they are the worst. These guys are not professional, nor are they considerate, once they take your money they will be done with you.

The other way and cheap way is to go to Leh and hire a local there. But it will be better if you are in a group otherwise it will be quite expensive.

Leh at its best – the sunset

How to save your money?

Most of the stuff that you need for trekking can be rented from Indian Mountaineering Foundation in Delhi. We rented down jacket, waterproof track pants, shoes, and gloves. All the things that we rented from IMF were in good condition and also were not expensive. You can buy woolen socks from Leh itself, this will be a cheaper and a better option.

Rann Of Kutch/Mandvi Beach

It’s not sea my friend …it is the white desert of Kutch

 

Golden hour at Mandvi beach

 

Our Experience

We had been to lot of places in the mountains and we wanted to explore some different terrain. Kutch gave us that, we found it to be unique as we have never been to white desert before. The day we got to know about this place it was in our priority queue of “to do” list. We wanted to spend time at Rann and enjoy the solitude it offers.And we did that!!!!

Rann – check.

We had planned a 3 day trip to Kutch, during which we spent the first night at Shaam-e-Sarhad- a village resort in Hodka, food there was awesome and we got a feel of staying in village with facilities of urban area. We thoroughly enjoyed the handicraft village during the day and in the evening we went to the Rann. We had to walk about 4-5 Km inside the Rann so that we can get away from the crowd and actually feel the white desert. The experience was extraordinary and tiring. We found that desert was sapping the energy from us and we couldn’t even sit as the salt was wet. We had thought to stay till night and enjoy the moonlit night, but then unfortunately it was a no moon night.

Next day we went to Kala dungar and India bridge. At Kala dungar we did a small trek around hills and enjoyed the view of the Rann from top. Indian bridge was okay, as we did not have the permit to go further in so there was nothing much to do or see.

Last day we spent at Mandvi beach which was the most relaxing part of the trip. We had to skip eating Dabeli at Mandvi because of time constraint (Madvi is place where Dabeli was invented). We felt that we should have spent more time at each destination but then we hope we go back again someday.

The USP of the trip was the sunset both at Mandvi and Rann.

What is there in Kutch?

Kutch is a district in Gujarat which is famous for salt desert (Great Rann), beautiful beaches, shipyards, ports, Indus valley civilization remnants, old palaces and forts. There is so much in Kutch that one can’t get bored. Great Rann of Kutch is amazing and should be definitely visited, specially on a moonlit night.

Kutch Desert after the sunset – white turns into violet

How to reach Kutch?

Road welcoming you into the White Desert (Rann Utsav)

Bhuj is the city from where Rann (meaning desert) of Kutch/ Mandvi can be reached. Trains, flights and buses are available for Bhuj from major cities of India. From Bhuj a private taxi can be hired for the trip to Great Rann of Kutch and Mandvi ( taxi is the only easy mode of transportation).

When to visit Kutch?

Gujarat is a very hot state with temperature reaching around 48 degree Celsius in summers. Also the winters is Gujarat are mild, hence the only time when Kutch should be visited is during winter months( Dec- Feb), this is also the time when Rann Utsav festival is hosted.

Local folk performance at night in our reseort

If you are planning a trip then try to go on a full moon light when entry to the white desert is open till 9 pm. Also Uttrayan (kite festival 14th Jan) is a good time to visit.

How to plan a trip to Kutch?

Entry into Shaam-e-Sarhad (evening near border) – our resort’s name

A minimum three day trip is required to visit Great Rann of Kutch, kala dungar (highest point in Kutch), India bridge (last Indian post in Kutch), Mandvi beach and handicraft village. Great of Rann of Kutch, Kala Dungar and India Bridge are in opposite direction of Mandvi from Bhuj (both places take around 1.5- 2 hrs to reach from Bhuj). Hodka village and Dhordo village are two places where lot of resorts are present, though many resorts are coming up on the way to Rann. Dhordo is last village after which Rann starts. Dhordo has many resorts. So a 2 days for Great Rann, Kala Dungar, India Bridge and 1-2 days for Mandvi is sufficient for a short trip to cover the important places( the more you stay in Kutch, more you can explore and the more you will fall in love with Kutch).

Where to stay in Kutch?

There are amazing resorts in Bhuj, Great Rann of Kutch and Mandvi.

Resort view – A village experience

Near Great Rann of Kutch you can stay at Hodka village(has few resorts and it is about 18 kms from GRK), Dhordo village(its the beginning of GRK and has tents are on the white desert). We would suggest that you stay in these village resorts rather than in Bhuj, only then you will get feel of Rann(we stayed in Shaam-e-sarhad, amazing resort with great service and food).

Awesome decoration at the resort

At Mandvi, Mandvi Beach resort is one of the best stay as it has its own beach.

Mandiv Beach Resort

What all places can be visited in Kutch?

Some of the places which you should definitely include in your itinerary:

1. Great Rann of Kutch: This is the White desert- Spread in 7,505.22 square km. It is magnificent and is one of its kind. You need to experience sunset at this location.

   

   My brother enjoying solitude in the desert- realizing how insignificantly small we are

   

   watching sunset in white desert is one of the best experience ever

    

2. Kala Dungar: At 458m above sea level this place gives a panoramic view of the Great Rann. Kala Dungar has many small mountains, so you can enjoy hiking on these mountains (hiking here is easy).

   

   Hiking is quite easy at Kala Dungar and the views are awesome

   

   Oh Desert ! white Desert !- why are you so far..??

   

   Highest point in Kutch

3. Magnetic Hill : On the way to Kala Dungar magnetic hill is present which can pull up a car. Though studies say that there is nothing like magnetic pull at this location but one should experience this to decide for themselves.

   

   The hill is probably magnetic..mind it !!

4. Little Rann: Famous for the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary.

   

   A domesticated Sambar at Mandvi beach

5. India Bridge: A hour drive from Kala Dunga, this is the last post of India in Gujarat, after which Pakistan starts( a very important bridge for Army). To move forward from this bridge, you would require a special permit from Bhuj. Stopping on this bridge is not allowed.
6. Mandvi Beach: It is a private beach owned by Mandvi Beach Resort and one of the cleanest one that we have visited. You can stay at this beach in the luxurious tents or just spend a day( as we did) by paying 550 INR per person(lunch is complimentary).

   

   One of the cleanest beaches

   

   Mandvi Beach property

   

   Sunset at Mandvi – a spectacular view (thanks to our friend who lent us his camera)

7. Vijay Villas Palace: A beautiful palace situated very near to the Beach resort Mandavi. Many bollywood movies were shot here (Hum dil de chuke sanam).

   

   The grand vijay villas palace (not that grand..:P)

   

   Awesome view from the top of the palace

   

8. Hodka village : Handicraft is one of the main stay for Kutchhi people and Hodka village, Bhujodi are famous for it. There are amazing craftsman who make beautiful embroidered things, leather things, pottery.

   

   Men at work – super dedication towards the work

   

   Village Hodka..begins..!

9. Banni Grasslands : A 1.5hr drive from Rann, these grasslands are Reserved Forests of India. Though we could not go there but we have heard its good and worth visiting.
10. Dholavira: An Indus Valley Civilization site. This site has remnants of 5000yr old civilization and is now taken care by ASI (Archaelogical Survey of India). It is about 200km from Bhuj.
11. Ship making : Mandvi is famous for ship building.

    

    Ship being build at Mandvi

    

    This place is also famous for making replicas of the ship (Sagar ship model)

Do you require permit to enter Rann?

Permit is required to visit Rann. You can get permit from Bhuj or on the way to Rann, a police post is present where the permit can be obtained (100Rs pp plus 50Rs for vehicle). A copy of identity proof is required for this permit. Permit can be obtained in 15mins and all the taxi drivers know about this post. This permit is valid only for a day.

it is Run Festival ( 😛 I mean rann utsav) and nobody was running.!!

What is there in Rann Utsav?

During Rann Utsav (Dec-March), tent city is setup with good quality tents and good facilities. Also a lot of shops and stalls are setup where handicraft and food items are sold. Musical and dance program is also organised for the people staying in the tent city.

Cleanliness drive at Runn Utsav

The best thing, about staying in the tent city is that you are at the Rann(literally) and hence can easily enjoy sunset and sunrise. But resorts which are a bit far off from the tent city are very calm and peaceful and they too host cultural programs at night.

What is a must carry for the trip?

Delight to eye – watching sunset at white desert

Gujarat does not experience winter. However, Rann gets very cold during evening and very hot during afternoon. Hence you need to carry both warm clothes and sunglasses to Rann. There are very few shops on the way to Rann, hence carry water and food with you.

 

when you see no pug marks – you know this is the road less travelled